Automatic dial operator



May .4, 1943." M. DEMEULENAERE ETAL 1 AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR Filed Jan.2, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 meu/snqere K MM AUTOMAT I C DIAL OPERATOR 4Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed Jan. 2, 1941 I lllllllli End m hm v )emeqlen m y1943- M. DEMEULENAERE ETAL 2,318,467 I AUTOMATIC DIAL OPERATOR FiledJan. 2, 1941 4Sheets-Shet 4 Patented May 4, 1943 UNlTED STAT as: PAT TosFicE AUTOMATIC mm. oraas'ron Marcel Demeulenaerc and RobertDemeulenaere,

Application January 2, 1941, Serial No. 372,912

llClaims.

This invention relates to a device for use in conjunction with dialtelephones by which an unlimited number of telephone numbers may beautomatically dialed.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of ,thischaracter which will save theme! the time and inconvenience of manualoperation of the dial and insure accuracy of dialing opera tions bytotally obviating the errors which nat urally occur when the user :iscompelled to rely upon memory even when dialing freqeuently usednumbers.

Another object is to provide an arrangement having a keyboard, theindividual keys of which when separately depressed initiate operation ofthe telephon impulse dial and manipulate the latter in such manner as todial the particular number with which the depressed key corre-, 1

sponds.

A still further object is to provide a manually settable perforated cardsensing device by which base is is provided with bracket arms 14 bymeans of which the dial operator casing i6 is pivotally supported on apin "i5. A portion of the casing i6, overlies the impulse disc II and byswinging the entire casing about the pivot pin it the subscriberjmayhave access to the dial for the usualv manual manipulation thereof. For

this purpose, a knob l'l provided on the. left hand portion of thecasing and an upright post IB'is providedon the base it for supportingthe casing and'preven'ting the weight thereof from being imposed on anypart of the telephone set.

The di'aloperating mechanism A and control mechanism B therefor arehoused in the casing 9 i ii. The dial operating mechanism is composed ofa central shaft l8 rotatably mounted in the top and bottom of the casingI6 and provided at its lower terminal with a dial operating crank arm20, the crankpin 21 of which is'of suitable size-and shape to bereceived within the apertures i2 of'the'impulse disc Ii. A spiral stop.

wheel 22 is rigidly connected with the shaft I9 and rotatable therewithand is provided with ten radial stop shoulders designated i, 2, 3, 4, 5,6,

I, I, I, 0. These stop shoulders correspond with I the usual markings onthe dial of a dial tele-. phone set and they are spaced '30 apart inaccordance with the spacing of the apertures in the conventional impulsedisc. The radial stop Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line. 1-4p of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

I the shoulders are arranged in a series disposed spirally of the axisof rotation of the stop wheel 2|,and an oppositely facing stop shoulder23 is provided to arrest the return rotational movement of the stopwheel. The shoulders I and 23 Figs. 6 and '7 are detailed views showing,re-

spectively, the specific structure of the spiral driving cam and thespirally stepped stop wheel;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views in top plan of the carriage feeddevice;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 8 showing therelation of the parts;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the coupling lever.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Fig. 1 shows the invention appliedto a conventional telephone set provided with the'usual base i0 1 I androtatable impulse wheel ll having the usual openings i2 therein. In oneconvenient embodiment of the invention a base member I3 is provided withrim l3a conforming in shape to andreceiving the base In of the telephoneset in such manner as to retain the dial operator in proper positionagainst accidental displacement. The

are spaced apart a distance of and the purpos of thisarrangement' willbe more clearly understood from the following description.

A spiral driving cam 24 is arranged immediately above the stop wheel 22and is" provided with e a, tubular hub '25 rotatably supporting thetoothed drive wheel 26. The cam surface of the driving cam 24 is ofspiral form and approximately conformsin shape and size to the tips of.f

the spiral series of stop shoulders i-ll. A releasable coupling lever 21is pivotally connected at 28 to the driving cam 24 and is provided atone end with oppositely directed pins 29 and 30. The

lower pin 30 isi movable "in a substantially triangular opening 3|provided in the underlying portion of the stop wheel 22. The wall of theopening 3| is provided with notches 32 and 33 adapted to alternativelyreceive the lower pin30 of the coupling lever 21 and the edge 34 of saidI opening nearestadjacent the axis of the stop wheel constitutes a camsurface cooperating with the pin 30 to swing the coupling lever 21outwardly under conditions to be hereinafter more fully explained. Thestop wheel 22 is connected with the driving cam 24 by a spring 35, thetension of which tends to retain said parts in a definite angularposition determined by the engagement of the pin 30 in thenotches' 32and 33.

The drive wheel 26 is provided with peripheral teeth 36 preferably fourin number, which are adapted to engage the top pin 26 of the couplinglever '21 when the lower pin thereof is engagedin the notch 32.Clockwise rotary motion is continuously imparted to the drive wheel 26during periods of operation of the dial operator by means of an electricmotor 31 and a worm drive the casing l6 and is provided with an arm 42normally held in the path of the teeth 36 of the drive wheel by a.spring 42a. The opposite end 43 of the pawl is adapted, when the end 42thereof is struck and turned by the teeth 36, to strike the pin 28 andshift the latter from the position shown in Fig. 3, into the notch 32.In this position the upper pin 28 is disposed in the path of the teeth36 of the constantly revolving driving wheel 26. and the latter thusimparts rotary movement to the driving cam 24 and stop wheel 22 throughthe lever 21 and the spring 35 coupling said wheel and cam. Incident tothis rotary movement of the stop wheel 22, the crank arm 2| and impulse'disc engaged therewith are turned through an angle which is determinedby the control mechanism B. Foland the spiral setting'cam is restored toinitial position under the influence of a coil spring 45 connected atone end to the top of the casing I6 and at its other end to the tubularhub 25 of said spiral cam.'

The mechanism B for controlling the dial operating mechanism A iscomposed essentially of a carriage actuating slide 46 disposed radiallyof the shaft l6 and mounted for rectilinear movement between pairs offriction reducing guide rollers 41 mounted in the casing l6. Theactuating slide 46 is disposed in the same plane with the stop wheel 22and in the initial position of said wheel the radial shoulder 23 thereofbears against the adjacent edge of the slide 46. A yieldable pressurebar 48 is slidably mounted on the top,v surface of the slide 46 and isprovided with a slot 49 receiving a pin 56 secured to said slide. Aspring is secured at one end to the pin 50 and at the other end to a pin52 rigid with the bar 48, whereby the bar 48 is normally held in aposition projected toward the driving cam 24 in the plane of whichlatter the bar 48 is situated. Thus, during rotary movement of thespiral driving cam 24, longitudinal movement is imparted to the bar 48and this motion is transmitted to the slide 46 through the ited relativedisplacement of the bar 48 and 38-39. A pawl 40 is pivotally mounted at4| in slide 46 under conditions to be hereinafter more the spiral edgeof the cam 24. The slide 46 opposed lateral extensions 51 of the slide46,

whereby the longitudinal movement of said slide is'irnparted to thecarriage 55. The carriage 55 is, however, capable of movement in adirection perpendicular to that of the slide 46 by means of the rollers56 engaging the lateral extensions 51 and thus the carriage is capableof two movements perpendicular to each other.

In order to control the movements of the carriage and slide 46 wherebythe terminal 53 of said slide is properly positioned to arrest themotion of the stop wheel 22 when the latter has traveled through apredetermined angle in dependence upon the movement to be dialed, aplurality of stop pin plates 58 are pivotally mounted on supporting rods64 fixed in the upright walls of the casing l6. The'plates 58 arearranged in two or more rows over the carriage 55 and are normally heldin raised inoperative position by springs 66. The plates are lowered tooperative position by the depression of keys 6| arranged in rows at theright side of the casing l6 as shown in Fig 1. The plates 58 of each roware engaged at the free ends in recesses 62 provided in collars 63 whichare rotatably mounted on a supporting shaft 64. Each collar is providedwith a pin 65 engaging a pin 66 on the shaft 64 whereby the stop pinplate 58 associated with one key 6| may be depressed without causingdepression of the remaining plates.

At one end of the shaft 64 supporting the several rows of stop pinplates 58 a universal bar 61 is arranged and is provided with recesses68 coacting .with the pins 69 of crank arm 10 fixed to the ends of therespective shafts 64. Thus, when a key 6| 'in one row is depressed, therelated shaft 64 is rocked and in so doing the pin 69 enters the recess68 thereby shifting the universal bar 61 longitudinally. In thisposition the top edge of the universal bar forms an obstruction tothecrank pin 69 of the other shafts 64, thereby preventing depression ofthe keys in the other rows. 7

The universal bar 61 is hooked as indicated at 1| at one end and engagedwith the pin 12 of .the operating arm of an electric switch 13. The

4 switch 13 is interposed in the circuit supplying current for the motor31.

The depression of any one of the keys 6| for initiating operation of thedial operator produces a rocking movement of one of the shafts 64 and.through the crank 10, pin 69 and slot 68, the motion imparted to theuniversal bar 61 closes the switch 13 thereby setting the motor 31 inoperation. A window 14 is provided in the casing l6 through which asignal lamp 15 is visible throughout the entire period of operation ofthe dial operator which affords visible indication of the completion ofthe dialing operation.

The universal bar 61 is restored to initial position to open the switch13 at the completion of a dialing operation by a two-armed lever 16-"pivotally mounted at 18 in the casing 6. The arm 16 is coupled at 19with the universal bar and the other arm 11 is normally held inengagement with a pin 86 by means of a spring 8|. During the upwardstep-by-step'motlon of the carriage 55 whichyils effected ;by amechanism which will be more fully hereinafter described, the arm T! ofthe lever is deflected by a pin 82 but during the subsequent returnmotion of the carriage under the influence of the return spring 83, thepin 82 strikes the lever arm ll and acting through the pin 80 rocks thearm H thereby displacing the universal bar 61' to a position in whichthe switch 13 is opened thereby interrupting operation of the motor 31and extinguishing the lamp I5. 1

Assuming that the automatic dial operator is teeth 99 on the carriage 55by a spring I00. The

the call numbers are composed of 7 figures, each stop pin plate 58 isprovided with seven rows of pin holes 84 in which the stop pins 85 arepositioned in a manner depending upon the particular telephone numberrelated to the key 6| associated with the stop pin plate.

The automatic dial operator is intended for use in connection with a tenimpulse dial telephone and accordingly each row 84 is composed of nineholes corresponding with the dial numbers 1 to -9. In the position ofthe carriage corresponding with the 0 of the dial, the movement of thecarriage in arrested by a stop 86 fixed to the casing I6. Beneath eachstop pin plate 58 the carriage 55'isprovided with a stop lug 81 which inthe initial position of the carriage is disposed in line with the stoppin openings 84 of the first row. The initial position of the carriageis determined by a stop 88 with which the carriage is held in engagementby the tension of the return spring 83. It will also be noted that inthe initial'position of the carriage indicated in Fig. 3 the stop lug 81associated with each stop pin plate is spaced from the first stop pinholes of the several rows a distance corresponding to that which thecarriage traverses inpassing from one pin in each row to the next pin.During this motion of the carriage from the initial position to that inwhich each stop lug 81 is presented to the pin located in the first pinholes, the lide 46 and also the carriage 55 are displaced by thatportion of the spiral driving cam 24 lying between the 1 first shoulderI and the return stop shoulder 23.

This limited free movement of the carriage 55 is provided in order toaccommodate the usual rotary motion of the dial through an angle of 60before the finger opening I therein comes into position in which themotion thereof is arrested by engagement of the operator's finger withthe finger stop 90.

The step-by-step feed movement of the carriage for successively,bringing each stop lug 81 into alignment with-the several rows of stopholes 84 is effected by a shift pawl 9| pivoted at 92 and co-acting witha series of 6 notches 93 provided in the adjacent member of the carriage55. The active end of the pawl- 9| is provided with a pin 94 adapted toenter the notches 93 and the body of the pawl is formed of flexiblestrip material whereby the terminal carrying the pin 94 may be moveddownwardly beneath the adjacent member of the carriage 55 at thecompletion of the seven stepwise movements of said carriage when the pin94 is engaged with the inclined surface 95 and flexes said pawldownwardly. The pawl is normally urged towards the notches 93 by aspring 98 and the movement thereof is limited by a stop pin 91aengageable with the underside of the pawl. The carriage is held in itsadvanced position following each stepped movement thereof by a holdingpawl 91 pivoted at 98 to the lateral extension 51 of the slide 46and'normally urged toward the ratchet pawl 9I is provided with anextension [0! and the pawl 91 is provided with the similar extension I02which, when the pawl 9I is flexed and is moved to the position ,shown inFig. 10' engages and rocks the pawl 91 to inoperative position, thetension of the spring 95 overcoming that of the spring I00. During thisreleasing movement of the pawl 91 the pawl 9I is held in engagement withthe stop pin 91a and the adjacent ends of the extensions IM and I02 arepreferably beveled so as to insure against accidental lifting of thepawl 9|.

Atthe initiation of operation of the dial operator when the slide 46 andthe carriage 55 are moved toward the right by the spiral driving cam 24,the carriage moves along the stop roller 88 and in sliding off of theextensionIOI of the spring pawl 9I the latter springs upwardly by itsown resiliency thereby positioning the pin 94 so as to engage in thefirst notch 93 upon the return movement of said carriage and slide underthe influence of the return spring 54. The return movement of thecarriage is limited by engagement of the slide 46 with the surface ofthe stop wheel 22 lying intermediate the radial shoulder I and thereturn stop shoulder 23 but slightly in advanceof the arrest of thecarriage, the pin 94enters the first notch 93 and is swung about thepivot 92 of the pawl 9| thereby effecting a,

stepwise movement of said carriage with relation to the slide 46 andpositioning the carriage stop lug 81 in alignment with the second row ofstop holes 84. At this moment, the pawl 91 which has been disengagedfrom the extension I0! is moved into engagement with the first ratchettooth by the spring I00 and thereby retains the carriage in its adjustedposition against the tension of the spring 83. During the next workingstroke of the carriage, the pin 94 is disengaged and is moved intoengagement with the stop pin 1 91a wherein the pin 94 is aligned withthe second notch 93 so that, upon the subsequent return, movement ofthecarriage the pin 94 engages the second notch 93 and thus efiects asecond stepwise movement of the carriage. These stepwise movements ofthe carriage'occur in succession until the carriage is moved to itsextreme For the purpose of explaining the operation oi the invention itwill be assumed that the stop pins l 85 in the upper left hand stopplate 58 have been so set as to dial the number 12-6-3400. That is tosay, the first pin 85 is inserted in the first hole 84 from the lowerleft hand corner of the plate 58; the second pin 85 is inserted in thesecond hole of the second row from the bottom, the third stop pinis-inserted in the 6th hole of the third row; the fourth pin is inserted in the third hole of the fourth row and the 5th pinis inserted inthe fourth hole of the fifth row. No pins are set to arrest the carriagev, in the position, corresponding with the O on the dial since the stopmember, 86 limits the full. stroke movement of the carriage.

Thus, when the key 8| associated with the stop plate 58 having the pinarranged therein as above described, is depressed, the universal bar 61is 12 is thus actuated to close the switch 13 and the electric motor 31is set in operation and the signal lamp 15 is lighted.

The switch 13 is preferably of the snap type and thus, when it is movedto closed position it retains the universal bar 81 in the position inwhich the latter is moved by the depressed key 6i and saidkey isretained in depressed condition by engagement of the crank pin 69 in therecess 68 of the universal bar. The motion of the motor is transmittedto the toothed drive wheel 26 by the worm and gear connection 38, 39 andthe first tooth 36 thereof in advance of the arm 42 of the setting pawl40 turns the latter about its pivot 4I thereby causing the angularextremity 43 of said pawl to engage the pin 30 and cause the latter tomove from the notch 33 into the notch ,32. In this manner, the pin 29 ismoved into the path of the teeth 36 of the drive wheel 26 and the spiraldriving cam'is carried along with said drive wheel togaging in therelated slots 68. The switch arm gether with the spiral stop wheel 22,the latter being drawn along by the spring 35. Due to the rotarymotion'of the driving cam 24, the -1 bar 48 together with the slide 46are moved outwardly with relation to the axis of the cam and in degreeproportional to rotary movement of said drlving cam, the tensionof thespring 5| yieldably retaining the bar 48-and the slide 46 againstrelative movement. During the first 60 of rotation of the cam 24 thecarriage 65 is displaced to such extent as tomove each stop lug 81 fromits initial position into a position immediately adjacent the firstholes of the several rows 84 in the stop plate. Since a stop pin 85 islocated in the first hole of the first row of holes, the lug 81 isstopped thereby arresting the movement of the carriage 55 and the slide46. At this moment, the notch 53 of the slide 48 is disposed in the,path of the radial shoulder I of the stop wheel 22 and consequently therotary movement of the latter together with the crank pin 2I isarrested. However,

the driving cam 24 continues to move with the.

tooth 38 of the drive wheel 26 and in so doing the spring 35 istensioned and the lower pin 30 of the coupling lever 21 moves along theinclined edge 34 and is cammed outwardly so as'to disengage the tooth36. Incident to theabove described rotation of the stop wheel 22,movement is imparted to the impulsedial II so as to correctly positionthe latter to dial the number 1. When the driving cam 24 is releasedfrom the tooth drive wheel 26, the spring 38 effects relative rotarymovement of the driving camand stop wheel thereby re-engaging the lowerpin 30 in the notch 33 and coincident therewith the tension of the coilspring returns the stop wheel 22 and driving cam 24 'to initial positionwith the return stop shoulder 23 of the stop wheel engaging the slide46. The spring 54 also returns the slide 46 and the carriage 55 toinitial position and in so doing I the first notch 93 is caused toengage the pin 94 and thereby swing the pawl 9| upwardly around its axis92 so as to cause a stepwise movement of the carriage and position thestop lug 61 for coaction with the pin located in the second row of holes84, the carriage being retained in this position by the coaction of thepawl 91 and the ratchet teeth 99. The sensing of the second pin 85 iseffected in the manner above described except that the location ofv thestop pin 85 in the second hole of the plate 58 peractuated the lever16-11 by means of the pin 82.

mits the carriage 55 to travel a somewhat greater distance so that, whenarrested, the notched end 53 of the slide 46 is disposed so as to engagethe radial stop shoulder 2 and thereby arrest the movement of the stopwheel 22 when the' crank 2I thereof has moved the dial II to theposition corresponding with 2. These operations are continued insuccession until the entire 7 rows of pins have been sensed, the switchoperating'pin 82 moving upwardly above the arm 11 to operativelyposition said pin with respect to said arm. Following the last sensingmovement of the carriage 55, the latter is returned by the spring 54togetherwith the slide 46, the inclined face 95 of the carriage beingpositioned to engage and depress the flexible pawl 9| whereby itsextension IOI engages the extension I02 of the pawl 91 and therebydisengages the latter from the teeth 99. The carriage being thusreleased is restored to initial position under the influence ofthespring 83, the pin 82 engaging This device is composed of a cardholder I06 having perforations I06 therein in number and arrangementcorresponding to all possible combination of perforations in a cardinserted therein. A member I 01 is pivotally mounted at I08 above thecard holder I05 and is normally retained in raised position by a springI09, rows of stop pins I I0 are movably mounted in the hinged member I01and are normally retained in outwardly projecting positions by springs II I. Thus, when the hinge member is swung downwardly the pins IIO whichare presented to the openings in the card pass therethrough and alsothrough the opening I06 in'the holder I05 and project below the bottomsurface of said holder. One of the stop lugs 81 is provided on thecarriage 55 in a position having the same relation to the stop pins IIOas the stop pins in the pin plates 58.

The shaft 64 supporting the stop' plates 58 nearest adjacent theperforated card holder I05 is provided with a recessed collar 63acoacting with an extension 631) on the member I01 and thus when themember I01 is manually depressed in the act of sensing a card, the shaft60 is oscillated and its crank pin 69 coacting with the universal bar 61closes the switch 13 and initiates operation of the motor 31. During theperiod of.

operation of said motor the lamp 15 remains illuminated and, as will beunderstood, the member I01 is retained in depressed position by theswitch 13 coacting with the universal bar 61 until the carriage'55 hasreturned to initial position under the influence of the spring 83 andThe tension of the spring 45 is relatively light and only s ufiioient toovercome the-inertia of the stop wheel 22 and the driving cam 24 andreturn the latter with the crank pin 2| to initial position atsubstantially the same speed as the normal return movement of theimpulse dial II under the influence of the usual spring return drive. i

It will be understood that the carriage 55 is swiftly returned toinitial position by the spring 83 when the 7 strokes thereof have beencompleted and the pawl 91 is-disengaged from the teeth 99. The dialingcrank pin 2| however, returns to initial position at substantially aslower speed and therefore the carriage operates to open the switch 13through the levers l6'll anduniversal bar 61 before the pin 29 of thecoupling lever 21 resumes its position, opposite the angular end 43 ofthe pawl 40.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the use of the automatic dialoperator will in no way mar, injure or produce any other detrimentalefiect upon the telephone set or its efiicient operation. On thecontrary, it promotes efiiciency and prolongs the life of the equipmentbecause the manipulation of the telephone dial II by the operating crank2l is smooth and uniform and the'telephone is thus protected from suchabuses as they are frequently subjected by manual opthereof, means foreii'ecting a succession of displacements of said member and forcontrolling the angular magnitude of each displacement of said member independence upon the telephone number to be dialed, said means includinga slide for arresting the movement of said member in various angularpositions thereof, a carriage movable in one direction with said slideand in another direction independently thereof, means .normally urgingsaid carriage in the second men-' tioned direction and means for movingsaid carriage stepwise, thelast mentioned means including a pawl foreffecting stepwise movement of the carriage, a pawl for retaining thecarriage in adjusted position and means on the first pawl at the end ofthe movement of the carriage to engage and displace the second mentionedpawl and release said carriage.

2. An automatic dial operator comprising a rotatable dial actuatingmember, shiftable stop means for variably limiting the rotary movementsof the actuating member in one direction, a cam for shiftingsaid stopmeans, means for intermittently driving said cam and said actuatingmember in said direction and rendered ineffective in dependence uponstoppage of said actuating.

member by said stop means, and manually controlled selective means fordetermining the extent of each of a series .of shifting movements ofsaid stop means.

3. An automatic dial operator comprising a rotatable dial actuatingmember, shiftable stop means for variably limiting the rotary movementsof the actuating member in one-direction, manually controlled selectivemeans for determining the extent of each of a series of shiftingmovements of said stop means, a rotatable cam for shifting said stopmeans, yieldable motion transmitting means between said cam and saidstop means, and means for intermittently driving said cam and saidactuating member in said direction and rendered ineffective independence upon stoppage of said actuating member by said stop means.

g 4. An automatic dial operator comprising a rotatable dial actuatingmember, shiftable stop member by said stop means.

means for variably limiting the-rotary movements of the actuating memberin one direction, a cam for shifting said'stopmeans, manually controlledselective means fo'r determining the extent of each of a series ofshifting movementsof. said in dependence upon stoppage of the actuating5. Anautomatic dial operator comprising-a rotatable dial. actuatingmember, shiftable stop v Q 1 means for variably limitingrotary'movements of the actuating member in one direction, manuallycontrolled selective means for determining the extent .of each ofaseries of shifting movements-2 of said stop means, 'a'ro'ta'table camfor shifting said stop means, yieldable motion transmitting her throughsaid cam and rendered ineffective in ments of the actuating member inone direction,

a cam for shifting said stop means, manually controlled selective meansfor determinin'g'the dependence upon. stoppage of said actuating memberby said stop means.

means for variably limiting the rotary moveextent of each of a series ofshifting movements 'Of said'stop means, a rotary uni-directional drivemember, a coupling member carried by said cam and operable to, establisha driving connection between the latter and'said driving member,

said coupling member eflective, a yieldablecoupling between said cam andsaid actuating member, and means for rendering said coupling memberineffective independence upon stoppage of said actuating member andsubsequent-relative movement of the saidactuating movement and said cam.

7. An automatic dial operator comprising a r'otatable dial actuatingmember, two part shifta ble stop means. one part of said stop meansbeing o erable to-variably limit the rotary movements: I

of the actuating member in one direction, a cam coacting with the otherpart of the said stop means for shifting the latter, a yieldableconnec-' tion between said part-s, means'for intermittently drivingsaidcam and said actuating member in said direction and renderedineii'ective in dependence upon stoppageof said actuating member by saidstop means. andmanually controlled selec- 8. An automatic dial operatorcomprising a-rotatable dial actuating member, a stop slide'shift-j ablein one direction for variably limiting the rotary movements oftheactuating member, drive means common to the stop slide and the actuating member and rendered ineffective in dependence upon stoppage of saidactuating member by said stop slide, a carriage shiftable with saidstopslide and movable stepwise in a direction perpendicular thereto, meansfor efiecting stepwise,

movement of said carriage, projections on said carriage, a plurality ofindependentlymovable plates. rows of stop pins on each plate coactingwith one of said projections for determining'the extent of each of aseries of shifting movements i I imparted to said slide and carriage bysaid drive 'means.

' ber by said stop slide,

- movable plates, rows of stop ."by said drive means, a

erable members for moving drive means common Y her ,by said stop drivemeans common to the stop slide and the actuating member and renderedinefiective in dependence upon stoppage of said actuating meme,carriagelshiftable with said stop slide and movable stepwise in adirection perpendicular thereto, means for effecting stepwise movementof said carriage,,projections on. said carriage, a plurality ofvindependently pins on each plate coacting with one of said projectionsfor determining the extent of eachof' a series of shifting movementsimparted to said slide and carriage said plates to operativeposition, acommon support for the several manually operable members, and meansincluding said support and. actuated by any one of said manuallyoperable members upon actuation thereof to render the remaining manuallyoperable members ineffective. j

10. An automatic dial operator comprising a rotatable dial actuatingmember, a stop slide shiitable in one direction for variably limitingthe rotary movements of the actuating member, to the stop slide and theactuating member and rendered ineffective in dependence uponstoppag'e ofsaid actuating memslide, a carriage shiftable with said stop slide andmovable stepwise in a direction perpendicular thereto, means foreffecting stepwise movementof said-carriage, projections on saidcarriage, aplurality of independently movable plates, rows of stop pinson each plate "coasting with one-of said projections for determining theextent of each of a series of shifting movements imparted to said slideand carriage plurality of manually *options on said carriage, a

'rection perpendicular by said drive means, manually actuated membersformoving the mates. to operative position, a. common support for theseveral manually actuated members, a control switch for the drive meansrendered operative by said support in dependence upon actuation of themanually actuated members, and means actuated by the carriage uponcompletion of a series of shifting movements thereof for rendering saidswitch inoperative.

11. An automatic dial operator comprising a rotatable dial actuatingmember, a stop slide shiftable in one direction for variably limitingthe rotary movements'of the actuating member, drive means common to thestop slide and the actuating member and rendered ineffective independence upon stoppage of said actuating member by said stop slide, acarriage shiftable with said stop slide and movable stepwise in adithereto, means for effecting stepwise movement of said carriage,projecplurality of independently movable plates, rows of stop pins oneach plates coacting with one of said projections for determining theextent of each of a series of shifting movements imparted to said slideand carriage by said drive means, manually actuated members for movingthe plateslto operative position, a common support tor the severalmanually actuated members, a control switch for the drive means renderedoperative in dependence upon actuation of the manually actuated members,and means actuated by the carriage upon completion of a series ofshifting movements thereof for rendering said switch inoperative, andrestoring the manually actuated means to initial position through saidcommon support.

-. MARCEL DEMEULENAERE. I onner DEMEUIENAERE.

by said support

